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G. W. PAGKER, OF T'OULOYN, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 78,476, dated June 2, 1868.

IMPnovBD EXTENSION STEP-LADDER. 'y

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T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY GONOERN:

Be it known that I, G. W. PACKER, of Toulon, in the county of Stark, and State of Illinois, -have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Step-Ladders.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full, elear, andex `act description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speciticationfand to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating Alike* parts wherever they occur.

t To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

`My invention relates to extension step-ladders, and consists of a novel arrangement for strengthening and. bracing them when extended.

In'the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view.

`Figure 2 is a side or edge view; and

Figures 3 and 4 are views of parts detached-.-

I construct my extension step-ladder, A, in two parts, B C, which are hinged together, as shown in figs. l and 2, so that it may, when desired, be usedv as an ordinary or common step-ladder. The sides 'of the lower part, B, I'construct of two pieces, connected at both ends, and slightly curved between, as clearly shown in the4 sameguregand make them of any length desired. Between these sides -I place the steps a, so as to connect the sides, as shown in tig. 1. The upper part, C, which I use fora support for the lower part, B, as'shown in lig. 1, when vonly a common stepladder is required, I make in the form of an ordinary ladder, and hinge it to the lower part, B, by hinges D, asshownin ligs. 1 and 2. The form of these hinges is clearly shown in fig. 3. I make their leaves, z', long, so that several screws may be used in fastening them in place, so as to hold their position h'rmly. Thesehinges D may turn on the same pivot, by making a bolt,'Za, suiiciently lngto extend from one side of the ladder to the other, and providing it with a head on one'end anda screw-thread for anut at the other. I prefer hinging the partsot my step-ladder in this way, but, it' desired, a single bolt may be used for each hinge.

To the bolt Zz, so as to move easily about it, I attach a truss, E, made in the form of the letter'A, out otthree pieces, ed e, the pieces c and el forming the angle atf, and e the cross-piece for tying and bracing them. The lower' sidesot` the projectingr ends of the pieces e ol, Icut so as to be parallel withthe sides ot' the ladder when the truss E is lying lengthwise with it, having made the pieces c d long enough, when so cut, as to be nearly of the same widthfrom outside-to outside as the` interior of the ladder, and to these sides I attach, by screws or other suitable means, metal straps g, provided with an eye attheir lower end, for the boltb to pass through, the eye in the st'raps g being suiiciently large to allow the truss E to swingreasily about the bolt b.

About midway between the ends of the parts B C ofthe ladder, I place metal loops F, provided with an eye, h, and formed as shown in lig. 4L And through the headf of the truss E, I put a bolt, and provide it at each endA with an cye,p, and connect the eyes ofthe loops F with the head of thc truss by chains G, makingv To the the chains of the requisite length to be stretched taut when the `ladder. is extended, as shown in Iig, 2. upper part, C, and near its lower end, I placca staple, with a hook to catch' into an eye, q, as shown in tig. 2.

It is obvious that in the place of the loops F, a bolt may be used, with an eye; but as the ladder is made light, the boring et' holes in its sides would weaken it toomuch.

In using my step-ladder, extended, it'is only nccessarfto place the parts B C in a straight linc,as shown in fig. 2, and engage the hooks q. The truss E, in connection with the chains G, will atoncetake therposition shown in the same ligure, and thoroughly brace and securely hold the parts together, so that the 'ladder willbe nearly as irm and quite as safe as though its sides were made of `continuous pieces.

In this way I am able to malte a cheap,- convenicnt, and light extension step-ladder.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim, is-

An extension step-ladder, consisting oV the hingedparts B, G, truss E, and chains G, constructed and arranged substantially as 'herein described.

G; W. PAGKEB..

Witnesses:

F. H; Wulmxnn. C. M.l S. LYON. 

